How to get a C-37 Plumbing license in Arizona

Arizona plumber licenses

Arizona issues 4 plumber credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Arizona plumber licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 4)

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old⁸

Experience

At least 4 years¹
Four years of practical or management trade experience for the qualifying party, at least two within the last ten years, in the type of construction applied for.¹
Substitute: Accredited college, university or manufacturer training can replace up to two of the four years.¹
Substitute: The registrar can reduce the four years for a particular industry or craft.¹
Substitute: A person who is or was a qualifying party in Arizona in the same classification does not need experience documentation.¹
Substitute: The registrar can waive experience, all or in part, by classification, based on passing an appropriate trade exam or a nationally recognized certification.⁹
Substitute: Accredited program diplomas or transcripts and approved apprenticeship certificates must be accepted as evidence of experience.⁹
Substitute: Military education, training or experience can satisfy the requirement.⁷

Exam

Arizona Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam (SRE)²
Given by: GMetrix²
Passing score: At least 70% on each required exam.⁹
Retakes: After a failure, wait 30 calendar days from the first and second failures and 90 days from any other failure.⁹
Time limit: Written examination must have been taken no more than two years before application.¹
Exam waived: Not waived by an out-of-state waiver. An in-state waiver applies to a qualifying party active on an Arizona license within the last five years.³

Background check

Background check required³
Felony questions on the application call for a Felony Disclosure Form. A person convicted of contracting without a license is ineligible for one year.³

Residency or citizenship

Documents showing citizenship or authorized presence are required for a state license.¹⁰

Social Security number

The sole proprietor application has a Social Security number field.³

Insurance

Attest to workers' compensation compliance and give the policy number if coverage is required.¹

Business requirements

A qualifying party is required.⁸

Business requirements

Corporations and LLCs must be registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission and in good standing.⁸

Business requirements

The license belongs to the business and is generally not transferable.⁸

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. LLCs and corporations form the entity with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Sole proprietors and partnerships use the name exactly as it appears on ID.¹¹
2. Choose the classification.¹¹
3. Pass the Statutes and Rules Exam and the trade exam, or qualify for a waiver.¹¹
4. Submit background checks and copies of government ID for all persons.¹¹
5. Obtain the bond and pay the fees.¹¹
6. Apply through the ROC online portal or mail the application form, then wait for review and notice of approval.¹¹ azroc.my.site.com¹¹

Apply online

azroc.my.site.com¹¹

Processing time

The rule sets an overall time frame of 60 calendar days: 20 days for completeness review and 40 days for substantive review.⁹

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years²

When it expires

Two-year license on staggered dates; an annual renewal can be granted on a hardship petition, at half the biennial fee.¹²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50¹³

If it expires

The license is suspended the next business day after the renewal date if not renewed.¹⁴
It can be reactivated within one year with the renewal fee plus $50; after a year a new application is needed.¹⁴
Inactive status can last up to five years at a time, at most twice.¹⁵

Renew online

azroc.my.site.com¹³

From another state

2. Every license level except C-37 Plumbing

Fees

3. R-37 Plumbing, Including Solar and R-37R Plumbing

Requirements

Surety bond

$4,250 to $7,500¹⁶ (Residential Specialty Contractors, by contemplated gross volume)

Also required

No new applications are accepted for the R-37R Built-in Central Vacuum Systems, Kitchen and Bathroom Fixture Refinishing, Swimming Pool Plumbing and Equipment, Gas Piping, Sewers, Drains and Pipe Laying, and Solar Plumbing Liquid Systems Only subclassifications; R-37R Plumbing remains open.⁸

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

Renewal

Renewal fee

$270² (Residential (biennial))

Who needs a C-37 Plumbing license

Commercial specialty classification: install, alter and repair all plumbing within property lines, including water supply piping, fixtures and appliances, venting and sanitary drainage, septic tanks and leaching lines, lawn sprinklers, gas piping, and hot water heating up to 30 PSIG / 220 F and steam heating up to 15 PSIG; service lines to the nearest public supply or disposal point may cross easements.⁸

Exemptions and dollar thresholds:

• No license needed for work under $1,000 that is casual or minor, needs no building permit and is not part of a larger job; advertising must say "not a licensed contractor".⁸
• Owners improving their own property for their own occupancy are exempt if the work is not intended for sale or rent.⁴
• Employees paid only wages do not need their own contractor license; plumbers working for a licensed contractor are covered by the employer's license (Phoenix still requires a city journeyman or apprentice license for permitted work).⁴

Requirements for a C-37 Plumbing license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Exam

C-37 Plumbing trade exam (AZ ROC trade-specific exam)²
Given by: PSI²
Passing score: At least 70% on each required exam.⁹
Retakes: After a failure, wait 30 calendar days from the first and second failures and 90 days from any other failure.⁹
Time limit: Written examination must have been taken no more than two years before application.¹
Exam waived: Trade exam only: a qualifying party active on a comparable out-of-state license in the last five years can request a waiver. In-state waivers also exist.¹

Surety bond

$2,500 to $50,000¹⁶ (Commercial Specialty Contractors, by contemplated gross volume)

How much a C-37 Plumbing license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$480² (Commercial (biennial))

CR-37 Plumbing

Dual (commercial and residential) specialty classification covering the C-37 Plumbing and R-37R Plumbing scopes.⁸

Requirements

Exam

CR-37 Plumbing trade exam (AZ ROC trade-specific exam)²
Given by: PSI²
Passing score: At least 70% on each required exam.⁹
Retakes: After a failure, wait 30 calendar days from the first and second failures and 90 days from any other failure.⁹
Time limit: Written examination must have been taken no more than two years before application.¹
Exam waived: Trade exam only: a qualifying party active on a comparable out-of-state license in the last five years can request a waiver. In-state waivers also exist.¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

Renewal

Renewal fee

$380² (Dual (biennial))

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

R-37 Plumbing, Including Solar

Residential specialty classification: install and repair water and gas piping systems, water fire-sprinkler systems and sewage treatment systems, with fixtures, vents and devices and solar applications; includes all R-37R subclassifications.⁸

Requirements

Exam

R-37 Plumbing, Including Solar trade exam (AZ ROC trade-specific exam)²
Given by: PSI²
Passing score: At least 70% on each required exam.⁹
Retakes: After a failure, wait 30 calendar days from the first and second failures and 90 days from any other failure.⁹
Time limit: Written examination must have been taken no more than two years before application.¹
Exam waived: Trade exam only: a qualifying party active on a comparable out-of-state license in the last five years can request a waiver. In-state waivers also exist.¹

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

R-37R Plumbing

Residential plumbing subclassification of R-37 (R-37 includes all R-37R subclassifications). The ROC classification page and rule list "R-37R Plumbing" without a separate scope paragraph; the CR-37 dual license combines C-37 with R-37R Plumbing.⁸

Requirements

Exam

R-37R Plumbing trade exam (AZ ROC trade-specific exam)²
Given by: PSI²
Passing score: At least 70% on each required exam.⁹
Retakes: After a failure, wait 30 calendar days from the first and second failures and 90 days from any other failure.⁹
Time limit: Written examination must have been taken no more than two years before application.¹
Exam waived: Trade exam only: a qualifying party active on a comparable out-of-state license in the last five years can request a waiver. In-state waivers also exist.¹

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

No state license for journeyman plumbers

Arizona does not issue a state license for journeyman plumbers.⁴

• Wage employees need no state license; Phoenix exempts the ROC qualifying party from its journeyman license.⁴

The official wording

“A. This chapter does not apply to: [...] 11. Any person who engages in the activities regulated by this chapter, as an employee of an exempt property owner or as an employee with wages as the person's sole compensation.”⁴

Arizona State Legislature, A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(11)

City and county rules

C-37 PlumbingThe plumbing contractor license is issued by the state (ROC); cities may not add their own contractor license and must check the ROC license (or exemption) at permit time. Phoenix separately licenses journeyman and apprentice plumbers and gas fitters who work on permitted jobs; Tucson and Mesa check ROC licenses at permit time.¹⁷

Arizona does not license individual plumbers. Phoenix licenses journeyman plumbers/gas fitters (exam plus four years' experience, valid three years) and apprentices (no exam, valid one year, must work under a journeyman or ROC-licensed contractor). Tucson and Mesa issue permits only to ROC-licensed contractors or exempt owners and showed no separate plumber license. Cities may not license ROC-licensed contractors (A.R.S. 32-1101.01).¹⁸

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a plumber in Arizona, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Arizona is on the Arizona license lookup page.

Look up a license

azroc.my.site.com¹⁶

File a complaint

roc.az.gov⁸

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• A.R.S. 32-1101.01 (local authority)
• A.R.S. 32-1121 (persons not required to be licensed)
• A.R.S. 32-1122 (qualifications for license)
• A.R.S. 32-1123.01 (biennial renewal)
• A.R.S. 32-1126
• A.R.S. 32-1152 (bonds)
• A.R.S. 32-1169 (local proof of valid license)
• A.R.S. 32-4302 (out-of-state licenses)
• A.A.C. R4-9-102 (classifications: C-37, R-37, R-37R, CR-37 Plumbing), R4-9-106, R4-9-112, R4-9-130 (Supp. 23-2)

Common questions

Plumber licenses in other states

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